The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1887-08-20

world. The God that brooded ovel
chaos until worlds and life came forth
that brooded over the ideal of freedom
until shackles fell from human limbs
and souls, that brooded over war until
there came the age Of peace, suppose
that he broods over sinful race until
every soul comes out of darkness into
hghtP Is there not room yet for all that
is symbolized by the cross of Christ?
And SO we say let the old mistakes go,
for there are truths more than enough to
take their place."
But no mere synopsis or abstract could
do justice to the stirring words of DR..
Thomas. He must be heard to be ap-
precisted.
In the evening Rev. DR.. Conc. Presi-
dent of Butchel College, delivered for
chile sermon on "Some Practical Rea-
SONS for the Liberal Faith" He said that
men believe from two reasons, dogmatic
ana practical. The latter is far more
important than the former, because er-
rors OF the reason are generally correct
ed by experience. The test of helpful
ness, of the power of the doctrine in life
is the best and final test. Various mo-
tives to conduct were dwelt upon. He
showed that love in the character of God
commends itself to the highest reason
and affection of man. Fear, SO much
employed in the old theology is made
prominent in liberal theology, by the doc
trine of the scientific certainty of retri-
button. The practical power of the liberal
gospel is shown in its doctrine of the
continuity of character in both worlds
that the future life finds men where
death leaves them, and that character in
the next world is the fruit of life in this.
There is no escape from the laws of con-
sequence, of spiritual growth. There
must be the same moral standards in
both. The practical power OF the liberal
gospel is shown in the dignity conferred
upon human nature by the doctrine of
the all-embracing love of God. The
meanest man, loved and sought by God
is elevated and ennobled in his own eyes
and the eyes of others. If God loves
him, he is worth loving. The liberal gos-
pei thus appeals to reason and affection,
and shows its effectiveness in the lives
of men.
On the following Monday, Prof. Geo.
L. Carey, of Meadville Theological
School, delivered an interesting and in
structive lecture on "How to Study the
Scriptures" First the distinction between
reading and studying was traced. Then
it was shown why the Bible needs to be
studied and not merely read, it being
collection of ancient books, by many
hands and of many widely differing dates,
written in languages now understood
only by scholars and treating of things
unfamiliar to men of the present time. 1t
was held that the problems calling for
investigation are SO numerous and COM
plicated, and demand such special prep
aration for their satisfactory handling,
that the original study of the Script
ures must be, for the most part, in the
hands of trained investigators, just as is
the study of the outward laws OF nature.
Passing to the question of method, the
lecturer maintained that the Bible can
rightly be traced only in accordance with
those principles which are recognized as
applicable to all other historical litera-
ture, that is by the so-called 'historico-
critical" method. The latter part of the
lecture was devoted to statement and
illustration of the most fundamental of
these principles. Special stress was laid
upon the necessity Of critical honesty in
the investigation of the meaning of the
Scriptures, and of a subordination of
everything else to the simple determine
ton of what the several writer's really in
tended to say-an impartiality of atti-
tude rarely met with, but absolutely in
dispensable to him who would prove him
self worthy the name of student of the
Scripture.
Prof. Gary has wide reputation as an
exegete and critical scholar, and his lee
ture was full of valuable facts and useful
hints.